Brighter Lives is launched in Aylsham area

From 2 to 9 November 2009, Aylsham Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) took part in a county wide initiative designed to encourage and motivate communities to address local problems and issues. Aylsham NPT is community led and committed to addressing issues raised by neighbourhood residents at local meetings. Speeding is an issue raised at every meeting. It was decided that Brighter Lives was an excellent opportunity to educate motorists on residents’ concerns as well as driving safely on neighbourhood roads.

Working closely with Roads Policing officers, Response officers, Broadland District Council, Community Speedwatch, parish councils and the Safety Camera team Aylsham NPT put together a schedule of speed checks in areas considered by residents to have a speeding problem. Every single motorist stopped received an education pack. This pack contained information on speeding and its consequences, details on how to improve road safety and driving and crime prevention advice.

The roads checked were:

Scottow Road, Lamas
Norwich Road, Aylsham
Shortthorn Road, Stratton Strawless
Village Hall, Buxton
Waterloo Road, Hainford

Four fixed penalty tickets were issued to drivers exceeding the speed limit and 72 warnings were issued. Drivers were also warned about not wearing seatbelts and one driver was issued a fixed penalty notice for having a defective tyre and windscreen.

The community are also playing a big part in this initiative. Aylsham is currently in the process of recruiting a community speedwatch co-ordinator and already has plenty of volunteers willing to take part in the scheme.

Speeding remains a priority for the Aylsham Neighbourhood and as positive links have been made with other agencies it is even more likely that residents will see more speed checks being conducted in areas where the community tells us there is a problem. There are still a few information packs available, these are free. If you would like one then please get in touch.

The Brighter Lives in Norfolk website is supported and hosted by